Rising commemorated at Arbour Hill

The President, Mary McAleese, and the Taoiseach this morning attended the 1916 commemoration ceremony at Arbour Hill.

The President, Mary McAleese, and the Taoiseach this morning attended the 1916 commemoration ceremony at Arbour Hill.

Members of the Opposition, the judiciary and civil service also attended.

Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, delivered the annual mass for those who died in the Rising at the Church of the Most Sacred Heart.

In his homily, the cardinal said the "tiny numbers" of people who continue to use or threaten violence as a means of achieving a united Ireland "bring shame on that legitimate and still noble ideal".

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"The Irish people have spoken. They have said an historic and definitive no to the misery, mayhem and futility of violence as means of achieving a united Ireland. They have said yes to mutual respect and reconciliation, to building trust and healing hurts, to shared institutions and the principle of consent," he said.

Dr Brady also told the congregation that people were longing "for something to give them confidence and hope".

"The memory of those who died in 1916 challenges us all. This ongoing challenge is to build our future for the good of all people and of the whole person. To do that we need to draw on all our resources: economic, moral and spiritual," he said.

"Ninety-three years on and a wounded Celtic Tiger later we salute the efforts of successive governments to turn the noble rhetoric of our nation’s founding documents into reality. At the same time we have to honestly acknowledge that we still have some way to go."

Dr Brady said there was "unfinished business" in helping the poor, the aged and the homeless; the sick; and refugees.

"Successive administrations have tried to tackle these issues over the years. We must all accept our share of responsibility for the failure to do so."